VICTORY CHESS TOURNEY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXVI, Issue 24, 27 December 1945, Page 5

VICTORY CHESS TOURNEY

FORMER CHAMPION BEATEN. (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 26. The defeat of A. W. Gyles (Wellington), a former New Zealand titleholder, by M. Stewart, a young Canterbury player, was one of the features in the first round of the championship matches in the Victory Chess Congress, which opened in the memorial dining hall at Christ's /College tonight. Stewart created a most favourable impression by his displays in his first championship congress at Auckland last year. He exploited his opponent's rather cramped game with a strong King side attack. Gyles endeavoured to' . extricate his position with a counter-attack on the Queen side, but was unable to avoid heavy material loss and resigned on the 26th move. H. R. Abbott (Canterbury), who is participating in his first congress since winning the championship at Auckland in 1936-37, outplayed H. A. McGilvary, a young Dunedin player, in an interesting end game. The remaining championship games were adjourned. R. G. Wade, the pre--sent champion, is two pawns up against J. D. Steele (Wellington), Mrs H. R. Abbott (Canterbury) is a pawn up against L. J. Darwin (Canterbury) and T. Lepviikmann (Wellington) has a similar advantage against. F. K. Kelling (Wellington). H. McNabb and J. L. Hardy, both of Wellington, have an even game. In the major open competition N. S. Henderson (Wellington) beat R. A. Godtschalk (Wellington) and B. S. Wood (Wellington) drew with W. E. Mqore (Canterbury). The following games were adjourned : Miss Hollis (Auckland) v. Mrs Golding (Canterbury), J L. Mitchell (Canterbury) v. Mrs Short (Auckland), E. J. Denys (Canterbury) v. L. Sim (Palmerstou North). F. Vincent (Canterbury) r. J. K. Webling (Wellington). The results in the first-class tourney were: A. J-. Golding (Canterbury) lost to W. J. Bevis (Otago), L. Cook (Palmerston North) lost to F. Newsome (Canterbury), S. J. Webb (Canterbury) beat S. Hollander (Canterbury), A. E. Summers (Wellington) lost to J. H. Woolley (Canterbury). Byes: W. Pearse (Temuka) and L. C. Pope (Wellington).